Attachment for beds.



PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

Ac. M. BRENNAN. ATTACHMENT PoR BEDS.

APPLICATION IFILED FEB. 6. 1903.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Anuntw. B Gamm cu, Punto-Llmoumpnsns, wAsnmamN. u. c.

No. 796,494. PATENT'ED AUG. 8, 1905.

C. M. BRENNAN. ATTACHMENT FOR BEDS.

APPLIGATIQN FILED PEB. 6, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 796,494. PATNTED AUG. 8. 1905.l C. M. BRENNAN.

ATTACHMENT FOR BEDS. l

PPLxoA'rloN FILED FEB. e. 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. BRENNAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MODERNMANUFACTURING & SUPPLY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

ATTACHMENT FOR BEDS.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application iiled February 6, 1903. Serial No. 142,139.

To all whom t muy concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. BRENNAN, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Attachments for Beds,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to attachments for beds adapted in some respectsfor general use in supporting various articles or utensils, but adaptedmore particularly for use insupporting a back or head rest.

Generally stated, the object of my invention is to provide a simple,comparatively inexpensive, an'd easily-operated device or arrangementwhereby either a back or head rest or certain articles or utensils, asstated, may be readily and conveniently attached to the frame of thebed. A special object is to provide a form of clamp which will readilyand effectually clamp upon the side rail of an iron bed of anyconstruction and also to provide one which will clamp upon the side railof a wooden bedstead.

A further object is to provide a clamping device or arrangement wherebyan adjustable back-support or head-rest can be .quickly and easilyattached to a bedstead.

Another object is to provide a form of backsupport or head-rest whichcan be easily and quickly raised or lowered and which can be allowed tolower or settle gradually, so as not to disturb or cause shock to theuser.

It is also an object of my invention to provide certain details andfeatures of improvement tending to increase the general eliciency andservice-ability of an attachment of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends my.

invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an ironbed of the ordinary or approved type, showing the same equipped with myimproved back-support or head-rest and also with an arrangement forconveniently supporting a cuspidor or receptacle. Fig. 2 is a section online2 2 in Fig. l. Fig.

3 is an enlarged plan of a portion of the side rail shown in Fig. l andalso of a clamping device which is secured to the side rail and whichsupports the headrest and other devices. Fig. I is a sectional view ofthe piston and cylinder which constitute a cushion for retarding thedownward movement of the back-support or head-rest. Fig. 5 is a sectionon line 5 5 in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a cross-section through one side of theframe of the back-support or headrest and also .through one of thebuckles or fastening devices which I employ for securing' the strips ofcloth or duck upon the frame of this back-support. Fig. 7 is a top planof the devices shown in Fig. 6. larged side elevation of a devicesubstantially the same 'as that shown in Fig. 3, except in this casethere is no cushioning-piston for retarding the downward movement of thebackrest. Fig. 9 is a side plan of aform of clamp adapted moreparticularly for use in connection with wooden bedsteads. Fig. lOis asido elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 9.

As thus illustrated, the devices shown in Figs. I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7are substantially as follows: The bed A is preferably of that type inwhich angle-irons t are employed for the side rails. For each of theseside rails I provide a bracket B, adapted to fit the angle- .iron, asshown in Fig. 5. These brackets are secured to the angle-irons by meansof coperating members C and a thumb-screw c. The clamping members C are,as illustrated, preferably provid ed with fiat portions c o', adapted toextend over and rest upon the upper surface of the angle iron. Thescrews c are threaded into the brackets B, and hence when these screwsare tightened the lower ribs or webs of the angle-irons are clampedtightly between the side portions c2 of the clamping members C and theback portion o of the bracket. Each bracket is also preferably providedwith a foot 7)', adapted to rest upon the angle-iron in such position asto brace the bracket against movement. Furthermore, each bracket ispreferably formed with a disk or hub-like portion 22, havingratchet-teeth on its outer face and having cani projections 3 on itsrear or inner side. The boltD extends through each bracket and clampsand holds a disk-like toothed member E and also a camlever F upon thebracket. The teeth of the member E and the member b2 are adapted toengage and fit together, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Between these twodisk-like portions a spring G is interposed, so as to tend nor mally toseparate the two toothed parts. Upon the outside of the disk-like memberE are provided a couple of sockets e e, adapted to re- Fig. 8 is an ennceive the side rods H of the back-rest. Thumbscrews e can be employedfor holding these rods in place in their sockets. The main bracket E isalso preferably provided with a socket b4, adapted to receive the rod I.The latter can be held in place by a thumb-screw b5. The rotatabledisk-like member E is also preferably provided with an arm @2, while thevmain bracket canbe provided with a similar arm 56. A cylinder t7 ispreferably pivoted to the arm 56, while a piston-rode3 is pivoted to thearm e2. The piston-head is preferably provided with an opening e4,controlled by a spring-valve e5. The rod of the piston preferably passesthrough a stuffing-box e, so as to prevent leakage. Glycerin or othersuitl able liquid e7 is preferably confined below the piston-head, thisliquid leaking or escaping upwardly around the piston-head when thelatter descends, butpassing quickly-and readily through the opening e*when the pistonhead moves upward. The side bars of the' back-rest are,as illustrated, preferably connected by a cross-bar t. Strips of duck k7or other suitable material are preferably strung crosswise upon theframe of this back-sup-` port, so as to provide a yielding andcomfortable structure against which to lean or rest. These strips ofmaterial are preferably inthe form of bands extending completelyv aroundthe frame of the back-support and held against slipping by the bucklesor fastening devices H. These devices are provided with a portion 1,which is secured to one end of the band, and also with similar portions2 and 3. The other end of the band is first looped over the portion 2and then'brought back between the main portion of the band and theportion 3. In this way the natural tension of the cloth causes thebuckle or device H to bind in such manner as to prevent the cloth fromslipping. loosen the bands of duck or other material, then the bucklesH' can be pulled away from the side bars, so as to prevent the bindingaction and permit the free end of the band to slip freely around theportion 2. Now with this construction the back-support or head-r restwilli-remain iixed in any position so long as th`e"pafrts E and b2 areheld in engagement, as lshownin Fig. 3; but should it become desirabletolower the back-rest then the lever F can rbe ,pulled upwardly orrotatedupon the bolt'sulciently to allow the cam projections "b3 toibecomedisengaged from the cam projections on the lever, thereby allowing thetwo disk-like members or portions Eand b2 to separate automatically as aresult of the pressure'of vthes'pring G. After doing this the disk-likeportion E is free to rotate on the bolt, and consequently theback-support or head-rest can be movedinto any desired position, andV atthis juncture it will be noted that the downward movement of thebackrest will be very nicely cushioned or retarded If it is desired toremove or by the action of the piston 'in the cylinder 57. This pistoncan only descend as fast as the glycerin or other liquid escapesupwardly around the piston, and consequently the downward movement ofthe back-support or headrest will therefore, as stated, be cushioned orretarded, so as to prevent Shock or jar to the user or occupant of thebed. The upward movement of thelback-support or head-rest is not in anyway retarded, however, inasmuch as the glycerin will pass quicklythrough the opening e4, the valve e5 opening downward to allow theliquid to pass. In other words, the piston can move upward as quickly asis desired, but can only move downward as fast as the liquid escapesupwardly. The rodI is adjustable up and .down and also in a rotarydirection and is adapted to support any utensil-such, for example, asthe cuspidor or receptacle lNow, referring to Fig. 8, it will be seenthat the construction is thesame as that previously described exceptthat the cushioning piston and cylinder are omitted. Thus it will beseen that the clamping` device and rotary support for the head-restpreviously Vdescribed can be employed either with or without thecushioning piston and cylinder, as

may be desired.

In Figs. 9 and 'l0 the clamp is adapted more particularly for use inconnection with wooden bedsteads. In this case, therefore, the bracket Bis preferably secured to the wooden side rail by means of binding-screwsjf The supporting-rod Y, which corresponds to the rod I, previouslydescribed, is preferably held in a socket j by means of the bifurcatedclamping member f2. This clamping member is given an adjustment relativeto the bracket by means of a hand-screw f3. Thus when the rod is inplace, as shown, it is clamped tightly between the seats on the bracketand the movable clamping member. This form of clamp is, as stated,peculiarly applicable to bedsteads in which the side rails are of wood.

Thus-it will be seen that I provide a very simple and comparativelycheap clamping device whereby various articles or utensils may beconveniently supported at the bedstead and n which clamping devices areapplicable to any form of iron bed having angle-irons for the -siderails or even to a bedstead inwhich the side rails are of wood, and,furthermore, these clamping devices are equally adapted for supporting ahead-rest or back-support either l,alone or in conjunction with acuspidor, basket',

drinking-tumbler, or like utensil. -All these clamping'devices andadjustable supports are quickly and easily adjusted. They are alsoeasily and readilyapplied to the bed-frames without the use of tools. Itwill be seen that, as shown in Figs. 3 an 5, for example, each clampingdevice comprises a bracket member B, having aportion b, adapted toengage the inner-surface of the side rail, an outer member C, adapted tostraddle and engage the outer and upper surfaces of the side rail ateach side of the bracket, and a clamping-screw c, extending through themember C and having threaded engagement with the bracket. In this wayeach clamp is adapted to firmly engage the side rail in such manner asto prevent it from being easily detached or tilted to one side or' theother. In other words, each clamping device, through the provision ot'the portions c', is pressed and 'held firmly against displacementrelatively to the side rail. Again, and with the provision of theiiexible bands L, which extend across and around the frame of theback-rest and' which are removably and adjustably secured thereon bymeans-of the buckles I-l, it will be seen that the entire structure isadjustable or expansible laterally, so as to fit beds of differentwidths, it being understood that the horizontal upper portion ot' thetrama/iI can be provided with a telescoping joint, as shown in Fig. 2. I

Whether the clamp is made as shown in Figs. 3, 5, and 8 or as shown inFigs. 9 and 10, it will be seen that in each case horizontally-disposedclamping-screws are employed and also that in each case there arerelatively adjustable clamping members, whereof one is arranged tostraddle the other-that is to say, in Fig. 5, for example, theclampingmember C straddles the bracket or other clamping member B, while in Fig.10, for example, the clamping member f2 straddles the outer end portionof the other clamping member jand thus there isin each case, and asexplained and pointed out in the claims, a clamping member which is soformed as to straddle another or coperating clamping member.

l claim as my invention-.-

1. Au attachment for beds, comprising a pair of clamping devices adaptedto be clamped upon the rails ofa bed, and an adjustable backsupport orhead-rest pivotally connected with these clamping devices, said clampingdevices permitting the head-rest to be adjusted along said rails; eachclamping device comprising a supporting-bracket adapted to embrace oneof said rails, an outer member adapted to engage the outer and topsurfaces of the rail at each side of said bracket, and a clampingscrewextending through said member and threaded in said bracket. f

2. An attachment for beds, comprising a pair of clamping devices adaptedto be clamped upon lthe side rails ot' a bed, a pair of members having,teeth adapted to engage teeth on the said clamping devices. aback-support or head-rest secured to saidy members, a pair of cam-leversfor causing the teeth in said members to engage the teeth on saidclamping devices, so as to prevent movement on the part of theback-support or head-rest, said levers being operative to releasethe'said members from the brackets, so as to permit the back# support orhead-rest to be moved up or down,

I said clamping devices permitting the head-rest to be adjusted alongsaid rails.

3. 'An attachment for beds, comprising brackets B, co perating clampingmembers C, clamping-screws c, the toothed portions E and b2, springs Grinterposed between said portions, bolts D for holding the portionstogether,vcamlevers F having cam portionsI adapted to engage the camprojections 3, and a back-support or head-rest pivotally mounted on saidbrackets, said clamping devices permitting the head-rest to be adjustedalong' embrace one of said rails, an outer member adapted to engage theouter and top surfaces ot' the rail at each side of said bracket, and aclamping-screw extending through said member and threaded in saidbracket.

5. An attachment for beds comprising a pair of clamping devices adaptedto clamp upon the side rails ot` a bed, each clamping device comprisingabracket adapted to engage the one side ot' the rail, and alsocomprising a clamping-screw and a clamping member adapted to engage theouter surfaces ot` the rail,

the clamping-screw extending through the said member and screwing intosaid bracket,

a rod pivotally mounted on each clamping def vice, the upper ends ofsaid rods being connected, bands of Jflexible material removably strung'across the frame thus provided bythe two connected rods, the bracket ofeach clamping device being provided with a cam-actuated andspring-released locking device for locking said rods at any desiredangle.

6. An attachment for beds, comprising a pair of clamping devices adaptedto clamp upon the side rails of a bed, at any suitable or desired pointthereon, a rod pivotally mounted on each clam ping device, the upperends of said rods being connected, each clamp? ing device comprising abracket adapted to engage the` inner side of the rail, and com# prisingalso a clamping-screw and a clamping member adapted to engage the outersurface of the rail, the said screw extending through said member andscrewing -into the bracket, suitable material extending across the framethus provided by the two connecting-rods, and the bracket of each clampbeing provided with cam-actuated and spring-released means for lockingthe rods at any desired angle.

l7*. An attachment for beds comprising a pair of clamping devicesadapted to clamp upon the side rails of a bed, each clamping devicecomprising a bracket and means for securing it to the side rail, eachbracket having an upper toothed portion, an outer rotary toothed portionpivotally mounted on each bracket and adapted to engage the teeth of thebracket, a spring between each bracket and its rotary toothed member,the said spring tending normally to disengage the teeth of the rotarypart from the teeth of the stationary part, a rotary cam device appliedto the one side of each bracket and adapted when rotated to draw andlock the rotary toothed member in engagement with the stationary teethof the bracket, a rod adjustably mounted on each rotary toothed member,the upper ends of said rods being connected, and suitable materialextending across the frame thus provided by the two connecting-rods.

8. An attachment for beds comprising a pair of clamping devices adaptedto clamp upon the side rails of a bed. each clamping device comprising abracket and means for securing it to the side rail, a rod pivotallymounted upon the bracket of each clamp, each bracket being provided withcam-actuated and spring-released means for locking the rods atany-desired angle, said rods being `suitably connected to provide anadjustable back-rest, each bracket having a downwardly and rearwardlyextending arm, each rod being rigid at its pivotal point with arearwardly-extending arm, and a pair of fluid cushioning devicesconnecting said arms on the brackets with said arms rigid with the rods.

9. An attachment for beds, comprising a pair ofclamping devices adaptedto be clamped upon the side rails of a bed, a back-support @or head-restpivotally connected with these clamping devices, and a iiuid cushioningdelpair of clamping devices adapted to be clamped upon the side rails ofa bed, a head-rest or back-support pivotally connected with saidclamping devices, means including a cam-lever for each clamping deviceadapted to lock the head-rest or back-support against movementrelatively to the clamping devices, and springs tending normally toloosen the pivotal connections between the head-rest and the clampingdevices, said clamping devices permitting the head-rest to be adjustedalong said rails.

11. An attachment for beds, comprising a pair of clamping devicesadapted to be clamped upon the side rails of a bed, a pair of membershaving teeth adapted to engage teeth on the said clamping devices, aback-support or head-rest secured to said members, a pair of cam-leversfor causing the teeth on said members to engage the teeth on saidclamping devices, so as `to prevent movement on the part of theback-support or,head-'rest, said levers being operative to release thesaid members from the brackets, so as to permit the backsupport orhead-rest to be moved up or down, said clamping devices permitting theheadrest to be adjusted along said rails.

l2. An attachment for beds,comprising a pair of clamping devices adaptedto be clamped upon the side rails of a bjed; each clamping deviceconsisting of a bracket and an outside cooperating clamping member C,said member straddling the bracket horizontally to en- I gage the outerside of the rail at each side of the bracket, a thumb-screw c passingfirst` through the side member and thence through the bracket forbinding the side rail between the bracket and said clamping member; and

devices for retarding the, downward movement of said back-supportorhead-rest, said cushioning devices `having their ends swinginglyconnected with the head-rest and brackets, and said clamping devicespermitting the head-rest to be adjusted along said rails.

14. An attachment for beds, comprising a clamp adapted to clamp upon theside rail of a bed, and a rod mounted upon said clamp and adapted tosupport the desired device in the desired position relatively tothe bed;said clamp comprising means including a thumbscrew for adjustablysupporting said rod, and also means including an external bracketadapted to reach down and under and engage the inner surface of therail, and a horizontally-disposed clamping-screw for gripping thesaidside rail, the adjustment also including an outside clamping-jaw adaptedto straddle the outer portion of said bracket, said jaw having twoclamping-faces facing inwardly and separated by the intervening portionof the bracket. i

l5. An attachment for beds, comprising a clamp adapted to clamp upon theside rail of a bed, and a rod mounted upon said clamp and adapted tosupport the device which it is desired to attach to the bed; said clampcomprising one member upon which said rod is mounted and which isadapted to reach under and engage the inner surface of the said siderail, another member straddling the other member and adapted to engagethe upper and outer surfaces of said side rail, and a horizontalclamping-screw extending through said member and threaded in saidbracket.

16. An attachment for beds, comprising a clamp adapted to clamp upon theside rail of a bed, and a rod adjustably mounted upon said clamp, saidrod being adapted to support the desired device in the desired positionrelatively to the bed, and said clamp comprising a bracket upon whichsaid rod is mounted and which is adapted to embrace the lower ange of aside rail. a member straddling the bracket and adapted to engage theouter and top surfaces of said side rail, and a horizontalclamping-screw extending through said member and threaded in saidbracket.

17. An attachment for beds, comprising a two-part clamp adapted to clampupon the side rail of a bed, one part being outside of and straddlingthe other, and a rod mounted upon said clamp and adapted to support thedesired device in the desired position relatively to the bed, said clampcomprising a horizontally-disposed clamping-screw extending through theouter straddling part and threaded in the inner part.

18. An attachment for beds, comprising a pair of clamping devicesadapted to clamp upon the side rails of a bed, a rod pivotally mountedon each clamping device, said rods being connected at their upper ends,and a plurality of strips of flexible material strung across the frameprovided by the two connected rods, thereby adapting the structure toserve as the adjustable or tilting back-rest,

` each strip of exible material being removably secured in band formaround and across the frame from one rod to the other by means of abuckle securing its ends together.

19. In an attachment of the character described, the combination ofclamping devices adapted to clamp upon the side rails of a bed, a framepivotally mounted upon said clamping devices, strips of exible materialstrung across and around said frame, and buckles having cross-pieces l,2 and 3, adapted to cause a binding action on the iiexible material,each buckle connecting the opposite ends of a strip.

20. An attachment for beds, comprising a clamping device adapted toclamp upon the side rail of a bed, said clamping device comprising abracket adapted to reach under and engage the inner side of the saidrail, and comprising also a clamping-screw and an outer clamping memberstraddling the bracket, said clamping member being adapted to engage theouter surface of the rail at each side of said bracket, and theclamping-screw extending through said member and screwing into thebracket, a rod adjustably mounted upon said bracket, and a receptaclecarried by said arm.

21. An attachment for beds, comprising a clamp adapted to grip the siderail of a bed, said clamp consisting of an upright bracket memberprovided with a lower portion adapted to reach under and engage theinner surface of the side rail, an outer member adapted to straddle thesaid bracket member and engage the outer surface of the side rail, and aclamping-screw extending through said outer member and having a threadedengagement with the bracket member.

22. An attachment for beds, comprising a clamp adapted to grip the siderail of a bed, and a supporting-rod carried by said clamp and mountedfor endwise adjustment, said clamp consisting of a bracket memberadapted to occupy a position outside of the side rail and provided witha portion for engaging the inner surface of said rail, an outer memberadapted to straddle said bracket member and engaging both the outer andupper surface of the rail, and a clamping-screw extending through thesaid outer member and having a threaded engagement with the said bracketmember.

23. An attachment for beds, comprising a pair of clamping devicesadapted to grip the side rails of a bed, a back-rest swingingly mountedupon said clamping devices, and a pair of fluid cushioning devices forcushioning the downward movement of the back-rest, each cushioningdevice comprising a piston and a cylinder, the pistons of the twocushioning devices being swingingly connected with the back-rest, andthe lower ends of the two cylinders being swingingly connected with thesaid clamping devices.

24. An attachment for beds, comprising a pair of clamping devicesadapted to grip the side rails of a bed, each clamping device comprisingtwo relatively adjustable members whereof one straddles'and engages theouter surface of the rail at each side of the other; a frame swinginglymounted on said clamping devices; and a suitable number of iexible bandsextending across and around said frame and provided with means forremovably securing them in place thereon.

25. An attachment for beds, comprising a pair of clamping devicesadapted to grip the side rails of a bed, the said clamping devicescomprising horizontally-disposed clampingscrews and relativelyadjustable clamping members whereof one straddles the other, a frameswingingly mounted upon said clamping devices, means for holding theframe at any desired angle, an adjustable connection between the upperends of the side portions of said frame, whereby the latter isadjustable to fit beds of different widths.

Signed by me at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, this 8th day ofNovember, 1902.

CHARLES M. BRENNAN.

Witnesses:

CHAS. C. BULKLEY, HARRY P. BAUMGARTNER.

